Family Law Attorneys in Houston, TX

Houston divorces and custody cases are filed in Harris County, where crowded dockets make early strategy matter. A Texas-licensed family law attorney serving Houston will review your circumstances at no cost.

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How we match your Houston family law case

When you submit a Houston family law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A family law matter needs someone who handles family law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Texas law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Texas who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Family Law cases in Houston

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Family cases in Houston involve divorces with homes, retirement accounts, and business interests tied to the energy and medical sectors, custody disputes across a sprawling metro, and child support matters for families at every income level. Texas is a community property state, and Harris County has dedicated family district courts handling a large volume of cases. Texas uses conservatorship rather than custody, and standard possession schedules are common starting points. DearLegal matches you with a Texas-licensed attorney who handles family law cases in Houston, with a free review.

Houston divorces and custody cases are heard in Harris County’s dedicated family district courts.
Texas is a community property state, so property acquired during marriage is presumed to belong to both spouses.
Texas uses conservatorship and standard possession schedules, which shape most Houston custody arrangements.

Texas family law rules at a glance

Houston cases run under Texas law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Texas page.

Read the full Texas family law guide →

Residency Requirement: 6 months
6 months in Texas, 90 days in county (Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301); 60-day cooling-off period
Property Division System: Community Property
Community Property — just and right division (Tex. Fam. Code §§ 3.002, 7.001)
Custody Standard: Conservatorship
Conservatorship — joint managing conservatorship presumed (Tex. Fam. Code § 153.131)
Child Support Guidelines: 20%
Percentage of Obligor Income — 20% one child, 25% two, 30% three, 35% four, 40% five+ (Tex. Fam. Code § 154.125); capped at $9,200/mo net income (2019)
Spousal Support Framework: 20%
Spousal maintenance under Tex. Fam. Code Chapter 8 — strict eligibility, capped at $5,000/mo or 20% of payor income; duration limited (5/7/10 years based on marriage length)
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Houston family law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Texas · Family Law

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Family Law matters in Texas are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Family law cases in Texas are not handled on contingency. Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 1.04(e) — patterned on ABA Model Rule 1.5(d) — prohibits contingent fees in any matter where the fee is contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support, or property settlement. Texas family law attorneys charge hourly (billed against a retainer) or a flat fee for uncontested matters. Courts may award fees under Tex. Fam. Code §§ 6.708 and 106.002.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Houston family law questions, answered

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In Harris County, which has family district courts dedicated to divorce, custody, and support matters. Texas requires a residency period before filing and a waiting period before a divorce is final. An attorney handles the filing and guides you through disclosures and any hearings.

Texas is a community property state, so property acquired during the marriage generally belongs to both spouses and is divided in a just and right manner, which is often but not always equal. Separate property stays with its owner. An attorney helps trace and value assets.

Texas uses the term conservatorship and typically names both parents joint managing conservators, with a standard possession schedule as the default starting point. Courts focus on the child’s best interest. An attorney helps you seek an arrangement that fits your family and work schedule.

At minimum, 60 days from filing — Texas’s cooling-off period under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.702. Uncontested divorces typically finalize at or shortly after 60 days. Contested cases generally take 6–12 months, longer in busy metros like Harris (Houston), Dallas, and Bexar (San Antonio) counties.

Yes. Insupportability is the primary no-fault ground under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.001 — discord or conflict of personalities that destroys the legitimate ends of marriage. Texas also recognizes 6 fault grounds: cruelty, adultery, conviction of a felony, abandonment for 1+ year, living apart for 3+ years, and confinement in a mental hospital for 3+ years.